Moving Up to International Level: Anne Okkema: “The Horses Are World-Class, Now It’s My Turn”

In 2025, Anne Okkema competed in two FEI 2* events and the 4* Nations Cup in Baborówko, Poland. At the end of March 2026, he made his 3* debut in Exloo, where drivers such as Kees Koops (NED), Franck Grimonprez (FRA), Marcel Luder (SUI), and Alexander Bösch (AUT) also made the transition from pairs to four-in-hand. It is a remarkable development at a time when not only the daily costs of horse management continue to rise, but also entry fees and equipment costs associated with the sport.

Why did you decide to move up to the international level?

“Fifteen years ago, together with Peter Chardon, Jelmer Chardon’s father, I bred our first Topspeed Friesians, crosses between the Russian Orlov Tr..